Information sought

[kakariki]

I'm an Aussie from Victoria who travels to Udon about 4 times a year for about 1 month at a time, and I drive a car and motorcycle whilst there. What are Thailand's rules concerning what licence I can use.
Am I legal to drive and ride on my Victorian licence whilst there, or should I have an international licence?
Is it actually written somewhere?
Thanks Barry

[Doodoo]

Have you tried Google

[kakariki]

Was just able to find out, International licence, passport and national driving licence

[Bandung_Dero]

It will not help you very much whether it is written or not. Up to the BiB (idiot Thai police) who pulls you over. Probably cost you 200 to 500 Baht in "tea money" no matter what and that includes their ignorance toward International Licenses.
All I know as fact is the major car hire companies, eg. Hertz, Budget, Avis etc. will rent you a car for a month on an Australian License.

[sometimewoodworker]

Was just able to find out, International licence, passport and national driving licence

Apart from the mistake calling the IDP an international license (it is a translation of your national license) you are correct.

Though except in some very few places if stopped you will never need either the IDP or passport. Car and motorcycle hire shops are supposed to check and many will ask to hold your passport, you should refuse as the law states that you should carry it with you.

The law has been changed, though it’s difficult to locate the exact text, so that an IDP is not required if your national license is in English.

FWIW in the U.K. I only use my Thai license, I haven’t used an IDP for about 20 years.

[deankham]

Is it possible to get a Thai driving licence without a visa? If yes, then I'd get a Thai driving licence. Mine has been very useful over the years (I got it when I had a Non-OA at the time).

[samster]

My non O Visa expired after Covid so, was temporarily on a tourist Visa. I could only get a 1 year Thai driving licence. Once I got the non O, all OK

Re STWW last comment, a Thai licence is acceptable in the UK (and Europe) but most hire companies wont accept it.

[sometimewoodworker]

My non O Visa expired after Covid so, was temporarily on a tourist Visa. I could only get a 1 year Thai driving licence. Once I got the non O, all OK

Re STWW last comment, a Thai licence is acceptable in the UK (and Europe) but most hire companies wont accept it.

The temporary license was changed to a 2 year licence quite a time before Covid. On the subject of car hire Sixt when offered my green U.K. license or my Thai 5 year license preferred my Thai licence, twice, it is only two data points but it does rather refute your suggestion.

[sometimewoodworker]

Is it possible to get a Thai driving licence without a visa?

The answer, as is often the case in Thailand, is
Yes
No
Maybe
And maybe with a tea contribution
They all depend on where you go, who you ask, and how you ask.
However you can keep going to different DLT offices in the hopes of getting a yes.

[Khun Paul]

On thisd qu8estion the ;aw can be confusing as often the Police Officers have no clue either. BUT I know Nong Han DLT centre is a quiet office and according to many others polite and helpful. You could try there initially .

[tamada]

Have you tried Google

Have you tried AI?

[Whistler]

Is it possible to get a Thai driving licence without a visa?

The answer, as is often the case in Thailand, is
Yes
No
Maybe
And maybe with a tea contribution
They all depend on where you go, who you ask, and how you ask.
However you can keep going to different DLT offices in the hopes of getting a yes.

Officially, no. You need an approval letter from immigration. However, that is only officially and subject to the weather, the time of day and a kindly official.

[747man]

Is it possible to get a Thai driving licence without a visa?

The answer, as is often the case in Thailand, is
Yes
No
Maybe
And maybe with a tea contribution
They all depend on where you go, who you ask, and how you ask.
However you can keep going to different DLT offices in the hopes of getting a yes.

Officially, no. You need an approval letter from immigration. However, that is only officially and subject to the weather, the time of day and a kindly official.

And a Brown Banknote or Two.......

[tamada]

My non O Visa expired after Covid so, was temporarily on a tourist Visa. I could only get a 1 year Thai driving licence. Once I got the non O, all OK

Re STWW last comment, a Thai licence is acceptable in the UK (and Europe) but most hire companies wont accept it.

The temporary license was changed to a 2 year licence quite a time before Covid. On the subject of car hire Sixt when offered my green U.K. license or my Thai 5 year license preferred my Thai licence, twice, it is only two data points but it does rather refute your suggestion.

Never had my (full 5 year) TDL refused by three UK rental companies, including one off-airport provider of commercial vehicles. But they would not accept the previous 1-year TDL as that was classed same as a provisional license. Similar to stww' s experience, Sixt and Budget preferred the TDL. It's illegal to use a UKDLin the UK if you are no longer resident or don't actually live at the address on the UKDL (£1200 fine if apprehended).

Back to the OP: Bandung Dero's response is closest to the reality of driving here on a short-term basis. Get an IDP from Australia and try and avoid situations where you need to waste oxygen on an indolent, hungry local cop.

[samster]

My non O Visa expired after Covid so, was temporarily on a tourist Visa. I could only get a 1 year Thai driving licence. Once I got the non O, all OK

Re STWW last comment, a Thai licence is acceptable in the UK (and Europe) but most hire companies wont accept it.

The temporary license was changed to a 2 year licence quite a time before Covid. On the subject of car hire Sixt when offered my green U.K. license or my Thai 5 year license preferred my Thai licence, twice, it is only two data points but it does rather refute your suggestion.

Never had my (full 5 year) TDL refused by three UK rental companies, including one off-airport provider of commercial vehicles. But they would not accept the previous 1-year TDL as that was classed same as a provisional license. Similar to stww' s experience, Sixt and Budget preferred the TDL. It's illegal to use a UKDLin the UK if you are no longer resident or don't actually live at the address on the UKDL (£1200 fine if apprehended).

You're correct, it was a 2 year licence. Time flies when you're getting old and I forgot. I need to renew in November

Re the use of a Thai licence, I'm interested to know if the Thai licence was presented with an IDP? A Thai licence alone was definitely not accepted when I rented in Spain last December. 2 rental firms categorically refused to accept my licence for a pre booked rental which caused no end of hassle. It was in their t&cs when I checked so, no excuses for me. It stated that a non European licence had to be accompanied by an IDP.

I subsequently checked with my mate who is MD of one of the UKs biggest rental companies (and who ended up driving me around in Spain because he had his UK licence) and, he said that was the norm

[tamada]

TDL standalone accepted in UK and US. But I guess a Thai IDP will be needed if using TDL in Europe. One of those annoying things as I am sure the application process is obscure and all in Thai despite the end product being (hopefully) multilingual.

Anyone here got a Thai IDP? I think I read about it years ago on a ThaiVisa thread. Bit of a ballache but what isn't here in paradise east

[deankham]

My wife has had a Thai IDP, which she used to drive in Qatar before passing the driving test there.

She got it from the main purple place on the KK road with limited hassle. It was valid for (I think) 1 year and she never bothered to get another one after it expired.

[tamada]

My wife has had a Thai IDP, which she used to drive in Qatar before passing the driving test there.

She got it from the main purple place on the KK road with limited hassle. It was valid for (I think) 1 year and she never bothered to get another one after it expired.

Thanks. The UK version can be acquired online from the Automobile Association or in person at the Post Office. Same 1-year validity so I lost interest in them a long time ago.

[Whistler]

Is it possible to get a Thai driving licence without a visa?

The answer, as is often the case in Thailand, is
Yes
No
Maybe
And maybe with a tea contribution
They all depend on where you go, who you ask, and how you ask.
However you can keep going to different DLT offices in the hopes of getting a yes.

Officially, no. You need an approval letter from immigration. However, that is only officially and subject to the weather, the time of day and a kindly official.

And a Brown Banknote or Two.......

In fact my first 2 year license in Thailand had elements of those pieces of paper, the gentleman at immigration drives a very nice Benz, but was oh so helpful considering I only had a tourist visa.

[sometimewoodworker]

You're correct, it was a 2 year licence. Time flies when you're getting old and I forgot. I need to renew in November

Re the use of a Thai licence, I'm interested to know if the Thai licence was presented with an IDP?

I have never had an IDP from Thailand.
The IDP can only be issued if you have the 5/6 year license. Though I haven’t had one I doubt that it is particularly difficult or onerous to get, though I don’t think that every DLT office can issue them
I rented in the U.K. and can confirm that with a 5/6 year license I had no problems using the Thai license.

However a 2 year license will not be accepted as it is clearly marked as a Temporary license, so if that is all you have you are SOL.